Russia and Ukraine have ended the current round of talks on their gas trade with a stalemate, and both sides complaining the other wasn’t taking the talks seriously on reaching a settlement.
Ukraine owes Russia’s Gazprom several billion dollars in back payments, and while the deadline for the payment was extended earlier this month, the acrimony is once again on the rise.
At issue primarily is the question of price. Gazprom had initially sought to raise Ukraine’s price to $485 per 1,000 cubic meters, roughly in line with what they charge the rest of Europe.
Russia finally offered a price of $385, but that too was rejected by Ukraine, which was seeking $268.50, in line with the price Russia was giving the previous Ukrainian government.
The difference is Russia liked the previous government, and with both sides trading allegations recently, there seems to be little appetite for Gazprom to agree to that discount, and while Ukraine seems to be hoping to stall the issue until Gazprom gives in, the lack of realistic alternative suppliers for them will probably eventually force them to reach a settlement.
If the Ukrainians won't pay for their gas, pass the buck over to the EU. Maybe they can pay, given they don't want South Stream, which would give a reliable gas supply to Europe by bypassing Ukraine. The US however has blackmailed Bulgaria into blocking South Stream, so maybe the US should as they are increasingly the cause of problems between nations that want to trade peacefully.
The previous gaz price for Ukraine was the result of a price discount for a friendly towards Russia governement.Even before Crimea annexion Kiev was orchestrating a anti russian campain in its own country and abroad.Previously,Ukraine was on the way of entering into a custom agreement with Russia wich was favorable to both sides.Now Ukraine prefer Europ, very good, it is its choise.But on which basis then Ukraine want pay less than Europ for the russian gaz ? You have to choose between available conditions, you cannot have advantages from all sides taken togheter.It is clairely written in the gaz contract.In fact Ukraine prefer to receive gaz for free.And do you know what ? It is incredible but those bad russians do not want to give it for free !
Maybe Poroshenko can get the US to subsidize the cost of gas from Russia. he US can spend billions supporting Ukraine (to spite Putin, of course) instead of providing for the poor and needy here at home – or fixing the crumbling infrastructure all around us. But, hey, there are priorities…and then there are priorities, aren't there?
Why the war of the US puppet regime against Ukrainan people is totally censored here ?
They even use massivly banned phosphourus bombs and damage residential buildings:
Phosphorous bombs in the last video here: http://alles-schallundrauch.blogspot.de/2014/06/s…
As with the rebels, the Ukrainians have the upper hand. Putin has painted himself into such a corner that he has to make concessions in all directions. By preventing him from grabbing the Kharkov – Sebastopol railway line, they have made Crimea a largely unmanageable white elephant for Putin. The contours of the deal are already there: discounts on gas in return for favourable rail freight rates. The Ukrainians were very wise to hang on tightly to Kharkov and Mariupol, even at the price of letting things get out of hand in Donetsk and Lugnask, in themselves useless to Putin.
Yes, I see it now, ukes handing over crimea and the off-shore oil was a diversion. They're actually driving on Moscow as we speak. Clever !!